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Pioneers Shoot Down Hawks

HAMBURG, NY – Utica College (2-1) shot 45 percent from the field as they pulled away from Hilbert College for a 74-61 victory in the championship game of the 2nd annual Hilbert College Tip-Off Tournament November 19. In the consolation match, Clarkson University (2-1) used a big 53-point second half effort to close the door on Keuka College’s (0-3) come-from-behind rally to secure the 90-72 win.

Matt Baldwin followed up yesterday’s 28-point effort with a 22 point, 4 assists performance leading his Pioneers against the Hawks. He went 8 for 16 from the floor and 2 for 4 from the charity stripe. Playing big inside for the orange and white, Jeff Ward was 6 for 9 (13 points) and was the game-leader in rebounds with 9 (5 on the offensive end). Hilbert’s Chris Hoak went 4 for 6 from long distance and led the Hawks with 18 points. Barry Mason also hit double digits finishing with 14, shooting an impressive 5 for 7 from the floor and 4 for 5 from the foul line.

Heading into half time down by one, Hilbert regained their composure and built their largest second-half lead of 6 points at 14:23 off a Jordan VanDunk made free throw. Utica closed the gap and tied the game 43-43 at 12:34. Both teams traded baskets the next few possessions but then a Baldwin lay-in capped Utica’s 11 point lead at 7:44. Hilbert put the visitors at the line and challenged them to win it in the freebies. Utica completed 6 of 8 attempts to capture the championship.

In the consolation game, Clarkson’s Felix Llanos was incredible from the floor shooting 14 of 17 (10 of 11 from behind the arc) and 8 of 9 from the foul line to finish with 46 points, a new Tip-Off Tourney single game scoring record. Teammate John Coleman shoot equally as well, going 11-12 from the floor finishing with 23 points. As a team, Clarkson shot 51.7% from the floor and 63.2% from long distance in the 90-72 win over Keuka. The Storm were led by Teddy Tuggles with 24 points while Coty Paige earned 18 for the day.

The All-Tournament Team for the two-day affair was from Utica, Matt Baldwin and Jeff Ward; Hilbert’s Chris Hoak; Clarkson’s Felix Llanos and Keuka’s Coty Paige.

Hilbert College, located in suburban Hamburg, N.Y., south of Buffalo, is a private four-year college founded in 1957 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition. With nearly 1,100 students, Hilbert is a dynamic Western New York college that offers career-focused majors, including one of the top criminal justice programs in the region, and more than 50 minors and concentrations. The college’s engaging, student-centered campus community offers numerous leadership, internship, and service learning opportunities from which students launch successful careers while making positive changes in their communities. The Hilbert Blueprint promotes a well-rounded student experience over four years – starting with the Foundations Seminar in the freshman year, followed by Sophomore Service, Junior Symposium, and culminating with the Senior Capstone. Hilbert has expanded its academic offerings with the college’s first graduate programs and new Accelerated Degree Programs geared to adult learners.